Electric fireplace insert with interchangeable firebox modules

ABSTRACT

An electric fireplace insert assembly includes a fireplace insert, an ember bed module and a candelabra module. The ember bed module and the candelabra module are interchangeably installed within a firebox cavity defined within the front of the fireplace insert. The candelabra module may be separately operable from the fireplace insert, providing an additional decorative display. The electric fireplace insert may further include a projector module configured to project a simulated flame onto a rear wall of the fireplace cavity. The electric fireplace insert further includes a heat/blower unit to provide space heater functionality and a flame simulation assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent document claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/306,059, filed on Mar. 9, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates to electric fireplaces. More specifically, the invention relates to an electric fireplace insert including interchangeable firebox modules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the instant invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the fireplace insert with the ember bed module installed within the firebox and the candelabra module separate;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fireplace insert with the ember bed module installed in the firebox;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of the ember bed module removed from the firebox;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fireplace insert with the candelabra module installed in the firebox;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the candelabra module removed from the firebox;

FIG. 10 is an image of an exemplary electrical connector for powering either the ember bed module or the candelabra module;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the fireplace insert housing;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the fireplace insert, the ember bed module and the candelabra module

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third exemplary module in the form of a pico-projector unit;

FIG. 14 is a front view thereof; and

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view thereof with the pico-projector module removed from the firebox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the inventive fireplace insert is illustrated in FIGS. 1-15. Generally, the invention comprises three components, namely a fireplace insert 10, an ember bed module 44 and a candelabra module 60. The ember bed module 44 and the candelabra module 66 are interchangeably installed within a firebox cavity 24 defined within the front 14 of the fireplace insert 10.

In the exemplary embodiment, the electric fireplace insert 10 includes a housing 12 having front 14 and back 16 walls, top 18 and bottom 20 walls and side 22 walls. Within the front wall 14 there is defined a firebox cavity 24 which is visible through a set of glass doors 26. Other embodiments may not have any doors in the front, may have magnetic panel doors or snap panel doors.

The firebox cavity 24 is defined by a firebox rear wall 28, firebox top 30 and bottom 32 walls, and firebox side 34 walls. The firebox cavity 24 is intended to create the appearance of a traditional fireplace firebox. The side walls 34 may or may not be given the appearance of brick or stone to provide an authentic look and feel, and they may or may not be angled relative to the rear wall 28.

The interior of the housing 12 behind the backside of firebox provides space for the conventional components of an electric fireplace insert, including a heater/blower unit 36 which provides a warm air flow from the fireplace unit and a flame simulation assembly which provides the visual effect of moving flames behind the firebox rear wall 28. The flame simulation assembly includes a flame simulating light 38 and a flame simulator element with motor 40 which creates the shape and appearance of moving flames 42 behind the firebox rear wall 28. In this regard, the firebox rear wall 28 comprises a two way mirrored panel which allows light to penetrate forward from the rear simulating the appearance of moving flames 42 on the firebox rear wall 28 of the firebox cavity 24. The firebox rear wall 28 may comprise other configurations and have areas of matte and/or glossy finishes depending on the desired flame effect and the flame simulating assembly located therebehind.

As seen in FIGS. 1-5, the ember bed module 44 is installed within the firebox cavity 24 to create the appearance of glowing wood embers within the firebox cavity 24. The ember bed module 44 comprises a base 46 which has the same shape and contour as the bottom wall 32 and side walls 34 of the firebox cavity 24. Configured upon the base 46 is a translucent simulated fire grate and ember bed 48. Within the ember bed module 44 is a flickering light source 50 which creates the appearance of glowing embers. In this regard, the light source 50 within the ember bed module 44 is powered by a connector 52 running from the controller 54 and power supply 56 of the fireplace insert assembly (See FIG. 10). The connector 52 is plugged into a mating connector 58 on the ember bed 44 to provide power (see also the schematic in FIG. 12). The type of connector is not critical. It is also contemplated that the removable ember bed module 44 could be powered by wireless power technologies eliminating the need for connectors 52. The combined visual effect of the glowing ember bed module 44 and the moving flame simulation on the firebox rear wall 28 gives the realistic appearance of a real fire within the firebox cavity 24.

The heater/blower unit 36 is controlled via the controller 54 to provide hot air to heat the surrounding area to further add to the realism of the electric fireplace 10 and its' utility as a space heater.

As seen in FIG. 5, the ember bed module 44 is entirely removable from the firebox cavity 24 to allow the mounting of an alternate module or modules within the firebox cavity 24. As will be appreciated, the fireplace system 10 may include several different ember bed modules, and the simulated flame effect assembly may include selectable programming consistent with different ember bed configurations, or may automatically recognize different ember bed modules when plugged in and automatically select the appropriate moving flame effect.

In the exemplary embodiment, the alternate module is a candelabra module 60. See FIGS. 1 and 6-9. The candelabra module 60 also comprises a base 62 which has the same shape and contour as the bottom and side walls 32, 34 of the firebox cavity 24. Mounted upon the base 62 are a plurality of candle stands 64 and artificial LED candles 66. Referring to FIG. 12, each candle 66 has its own individual battery (B) and LED light (L). In this regard, each of the candles can be individually controlled and each has its own separate battery power source. The plurality of candle units 66 are connected together and then connected to the fireplace controller 54 and power supply 56 system through an electrical connector 52 via a mating connector (C). When the candelabra module 60 is mounted within the firebox cavity 24 (FIGS. 6-9), the flame simulating assembly within the fireplace housing is turned off, and the individual candles 66 are illuminated to provide the appearance of a lighted candelabra situated within the firebox cavity 24.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 9, the candelabra unit 60 is also capable of functioning outside the firebox cavity. The user may remove the candelabra unit 60 from the firebox cavity 24 and place it on a table where the LED candles 66 may still function from rechargeable battery power. The individual batteries (B) are charged while plugged into the main fireplace assembly. It is contemplated that each individual candle unit 66 can be controlled by a remote control handset (not shown), or that they may be controlled from the control panel 68 of the fireplace unit 10. In the case of a separate remote control handset, the candelabra unit 60 would include a receiver unit and the fireplace would include a remote control transmitter, and/or the remote control handset could communicate with the fireplace or the candelabra unit 60 directly.

As indicated above, it may also possible to power the candelabra unit 60 with a wireless charging technology eliminating the need for connectors.

Turning now to FIGS. 13-15, another exemplary module 70 may comprise a pico-projector unit 74 which functions to project a holographic flame image or other image onto the firebox rear wall 28 from the front. The pico-projector module 70 includes a base 72 conformed to the interior of the firebox bottom and side walls 32,34, and a pico-projector unit 74 mounted on the top of the base. The projector 74 includes a connector to power the projector unit from the fireplace electronic system. The projector 74 may be programmed with different moving holographic flame images, 2-D flame images, or alternately, may be programmed with other images as desired by the end user.

As the reader can appreciate, the modules can take on the form of many different types of home devices including, but not limited to aroma therapy/oil vaporizer units, humidifiers, air ionization, air purifiers, bubbling recirculating fountains, glass terrariums for animals, small aquariums, lava lamps, radios, Bluetooth speakers, or any of a variety of display devices. All of these devices may incorporate wireless power and charging technologies for simplified operation and interchangeability.

It can therefore be seen that the exemplary embodiments provide a unique and novel electric fireplace, which is easy configurable with one of several different firebox modules for improved utility and customer desirability.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying various embodiments of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. An electric fireplace insert, comprising: a fireplace insert having a front defining firebox cavity within the fireplace insert; an ember bed module; and a candelabra module; whereby the ember bed module and the candelabra module are interchangeably installed within the firebox cavity.
 2. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, wherein the candelabra module comprises a base, a plurality of candle stands extending form the base, and a plurality of simulated candles extending from the plurality of candle stands.
 3. The electric fireplace insert of claim 2, wherein each simulated candle has a battery and LED light.
 4. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, wherein the candelabra module is independently operable separate from the fireplace insert.
 5. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, wherein the ember bed module comprises a base and a simulated fire grate and ember bed.
 6. The electric fireplace insert of claim 5, wherein the ember bed module comprises a flickering light source.
 7. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, further comprising a projector module interchangeably installed within the firebox cavity, the projector module configured and arranged to project a holographic image onto a rear wall of the firebox cavity.
 8. The electric fireplace insert of claim 7, wherein the projector module comprises a base and a pico projector unit, the pico projector unit configured and arranged to project a holographic image onto a rear wall of the firebox cavity.
 9. The electric fireplace insert of claim 7, wherein the holographic image is a holographic flame image.
 10. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, further comprising a heater/blower unit configured and arranged to provide warm air flow from the fireplace insert.
 11. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, further comprising a flame simulate assembly configured and arranged to provide a visual effect of moving flames.
 12. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, wherein the firebox cavity includes a rear wall having a two way mirror panel.
 13. The electric fireplace insert of claim 1, further comprises a pair of glass doors hingedly connected to the front of the fireplace insert and operable to close in front of the fireplace cavity.
 14. An electric fireplace insert assembly, comprising: a fireplace insert having a front defining firebox cavity within the fireplace insert; a first module having a base configured and arranged to fit within the firebox cavity; and a second module having a base configured and arranged to fit within the firebox cavity; wherein the first and second modules are interchangeably installed within the firebox cavity.
 15. The electric fireplace insert assembly of claim 14 wherein the first and second modules each have an electronic component and an electrical connector, and further wherein the fireplace insert includes a power source and a mating electrical connector whereby the electrical connector of the first and second modules is interchangeably connected to the connector of the fireplace insert to interchangeably power the electronic components of the first and second modules.
 16. The electric fireplace insert assembly of claim 15 wherein the first and second modules comprise a ember bed insert module and a candelabra insert module.
 17. The electric fireplace insert assembly of claim 15 wherein the first and second modules are selected from the group consisting of: an ember bed insert module, a candelabra insert module, an aroma therapy insert module, an oil vaporizer insert module, a humidifiers insert module, an air ionization insert module, an air purifier insert module, a fountain insert module, a terrarium insert module, an aquarium insert module, a lamp insert module, a radio insert module, a projector insert module and a speaker insert module. 